Kompany expects reaction to defeat

Vincent Kompany hopes Manchester City bounce back immediately from the loss to Aston Villa

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany expects his side's shock loss at Aston Villa to provide the spur for a renewed charge.

After underlining their Barclays Premier League title credentials with a magnificent 4-1 defeat of Manchester United last week, City were expected to win with ease at Villa Park.

For much of the first half it seemed that would be the case as City dominated but they twice surrendered a lead after the break and Villa snatched an unexpected 3-2 win.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini described the outcome as "unbelievable" after the game and Kompany seemed similarly baffled, but is determined to ensure it is not repeated.

The influential defender said: "We felt confident we were going to win the game but three chances, three goals - I think that sums the game up. We could have scored five or six.

"We have to pick ourselves up and make sure next game we don't make the (same) mistakes and hope to be a bit more lucky.

"The first (Villa) goal was offside and the second goal, a free-kick, is never really something you can do about.

"We have lost games before, every team in the world has lost games.

"It is about the reaction, what you do next game. If anything I think we will be more motivated now to make it right."

The first half was a one-sided affair with City, even without matching the intensity they showed against United, piling on the pressure.

They created a succession of opportunities, won nine corners and limited Villa to half-chances.

It was a surprise they did not lead before Yaya Toure turned in his sixth goal of the season on the stroke of half-time.

The visitors were expected to build on their advantage after the restart but they were stunned when Karim El Ahmadi, despite being slightly offside, stole an equaliser.

Edin Dzeko headed City back ahead but Leandro Bacuna levelled with a fine free-kick after 73 minutes and Andreas Weimann raced through from a long Brad Guzan punt to grab a winner two minutes later.

The result left City still without an away win in the Premier League this season after defeat at Cardiff last month and a goalless draw at Stoke.

Kompany said: "I would be more worried if it was a case of being dominated, of not creating enough chances. I don't think that was the case."

City are back in action against European champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

For Villa, the victory has turned a promising start to the season into a very good one.

Paul Lambert's men have nine points from their first six games - a tally it took them 10 games to reach last season - and now have some taxing fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and City out of the way.

El Ahmadi said: "It was unbelievable, I cannot believe we won.

"A team that beat Man Utd last week - they are one of the best teams in the world. We will take that.

"After it went 1-1 we played very well.

"We have started well this season and we believe we can play against big teams. Now we have shown we can."

El Ahmadi fired in from close range for Villa's first equaliser after being put in by Bacuna on 51 minutes.

City's offside complaints fell on deaf ears but El Ahmadi concedes he did get lucky.

The Moroccan said: "I have seen the goal. I was a step offside but a goal is a goal. I don't care!"

Lambert spoke of how proud he was of his players afterwards but now wants them to quickly turn attention to their next challenges.

Villa are at Hull next weekend.

Lambert said: "You can't get caught up in it. That is it finished, on to the next one. You don't live on past glory.